Customer Reviews

Armchair Puzzlers: Cryptograms

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I love cryptograms. I've lost hours *spell-bound* in the darn things, even though I'm not the best cryptographer. This book of puzzles is immediately appealing because it's shaped like an armchair - and that shape somehow makes it comfortable to hold and fun to see. The layout of the puzzles is interesting because the puzzle on the left page relates to the puzzle on the right page of each two-page spread. Even though the two puzzles use different codes, you can use information on one page to help figure out the code of the facing page.

On the negative side - and this was frustrating enough that I decided to write a warning about it - the type is tiny and the lines are too close together. If you write letters above the coded ones, it is then difficult to read your own writing. The type is also a serif italic font that makes it difficult to distinguish between the letters "b" and "h". Similarly, some upper cases are tricky.

Worst of all, there are several typographical errors. This is a sure killer in a word game.

I hope that the editor decides to re-edit it, making the type larger and plainer, and correcting the errors.

The book has interesting cryptograms, but the letters are too close together, making it difficult to write in new letters. I became very frustrated and am ready to throw the book away.

Fun and interesting cryptograms. Not the same old quotes. Am looking forward to more by this author.

The cryptograms were both witty and held my interest. The letters were far too close together for me. Had the spacing been further apart I would have given it 5 stars. I was not able to do but a few due to that. Thank you, Robbie Poor

The font is hard to understand, and too small and the words are spaced way too close together. I would' nt recommend this book.

Folks, I wanted to like this book, but it had mistakes on just about every page. First of all, who uses a serif typeface to do cryptograms? The letters are just too close together. Next, I found 1 mistake on page 2 and then 5 mistakes on page 4. After much deliberation, the book went in the trash can. It said it was printed in China. Maybe it was assembled there as well. Someone should have proofed this before they put it on the market. I tried to give it a 1 star, but it would not let me post. I gave it 5 stars... warning, beware, let this one alone. My $7.49 I paid for it was wasted.

I found these challenging and a lot of fun. I'm hooked now on Cryptograms and hope Llull will do another before long. I've also finished her Kooky Cryptograms which is also great. Enjoy them both!

A fun book of cryptograms. We most enjoyed it at a weekend at the beach where a couple of us could pick it up and work the various categories we each liked most. Not terribly hard, but a nice touch is that the quote on the left side, though tied to the puzzle topic on the right, has a different key. I enjoyed it enough to buy a second one for a friend.

I bought this book for my Dad who has early onset Alzheimer's and ALS.
He loves to work the crypts. It takes a few days to get one done but they are helping to keep his brain active. Thanks so much.

I LOVED this book of puzzles! I ordered it along with another book as a package deal and didn't think it would be as entertaining. Boy, was I wrong. I really enjoyed the quotes that were so very current and the "families" that made you think. I hope to see an Armchair Puzzlers II in the near future!